Adult education programs on animal welfare can shift attitudes and behaviors, though different approaches are needed compared to childhood education.
Educating adults about animal welfare faces different challenges than childhood education. Adults have established habits, social contexts that normalize certain behaviors, and cognitive defenses against information that challenges their current choices. Effective adult education combines accurate information with social norm information, practical facilitation of behavior change, and community support for new behaviors. Motivational interviewing approaches that meet people where they are and support their own stated values are more effective than judgmental messaging. Community-based programs that normalize reduced animal product consumption while supporting individuals in making changes have shown promising results.